King Mohammed VI launches the fourth stage of Noor Ouarzazate solar plant

King Mohammed VI launched on Saturday 1st of April in Ghessate (Ouarzazate region) the fourth stage of Noor Ouarzazate solar plant. The station is spanned over an area of 137 hectares with a photovoltaic PV technology. The construction of this project will generate 582 megawatts and reduce Morocco's contribution to the "greenhouse effect" gas emission. This project will also provide electricity for over a million homes when completed in 2020.

With an investment of more than MAD 750 millions, Nour Ouarzazate IV is scheduled to operate in the first quarter of 2018. The station uses photovoltaic technology that converts directly light into electricity.

The project taking place in Ouarzazate is built through a partnership that brings together Masen, a Moroccan Agency for sustainable energy and ACWA POWER, a Saudi company specialised in solar energy. The station is financed by KfW Bankengruppe, a German government-owned development bank. KfW Bankengruppe has allocated MAD 659 millions to support the construction of the solar complex.

Launched in February 2016 by King Mohammed VI, the second and third phases of the solar complex Noor have reached a completion rate of 76% and 74% respectively. Noor Ouarzazate hence is one of the largest solar plants in the world with a total investment of MAD 24 billion.